Business

Hawaii weighs first-in-nation plastic bans at restaurants

Published

8 years ago

March 19, 2019

In this Thursday, March 14, 2019 photo, Belinda Lau, manager of the Wiki Wiki Drive Inn takeout restaurant in Honolulu, holds a polystyrene foam box containing an order of roast pork, rice and salad. Hawaii would be the first state in the nation to ban most plastics used at restaurants, including polystyrene foam containers, if legislation lawmakers are considering is enacted. The aim is to cut down on waste that pollutes the ocean. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii would be the first state in the U.S. to ban most plastics at restaurants under legislation that aims to cut down on waste that pollutes the ocean.

Dozens of cities across the country have banned plastic foam containers, but Hawaii’s measure would make it the first to do so statewide. The liberal state has a history of prioritizing the environment — it’s mandated renewable energy use and prohibited sunscreen ingredients that harm coral.

A second, more ambitious proposal would go even further and prohibit fast-food and full-service restaurants from distributing and using plastic drink bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, bags and straws.

The Hawaii efforts would be stricter than in California, which last year became the first state to ban full-service restaurants from automatically giving out plastic straws, and broader than in Seattle, San Francisco and other cities that have banned some single-use plastics.

Activists believe the foam container measure has a better chance of passing in Hawaii.

“We have this reputation of setting the example for the world to follow, and that’s what we’re trying to do here,” state Sen. Mike Gabbard, lead author of the more ambitious measure, said to the Senate. “Our state can once again take the lead in protecting our environment.”

Gabbard, father of Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, said 95 percent of plastic packaging worldwide is thrown out after being used once. In the U.S., 500 million plastic straws are used and thrown out every day, he said.

Discarded, slow-to-degrade plastic is showing up at sea, as in a massive gyre northeast of the Hawaiian islands, and on beaches.

Plastics also contribute to climate change because oil is used to make them, said Stuart Coleman, Hawaii manager for the Surfrider Foundation.

Eric S.S. Wong, co-owner of two fast-food establishments on Oahu, said not being able to serve food in plastic foam containers would drive up his costs at a time when he faces rising health insurance charges for his employees and a possible minimum wage hike that lawmakers also are considering.

He said he’ll have to raise prices.

“Now all of the sudden, your family’s $30 dining experience became $37 or $38,” Wong said.

His Wiki Wiki Drive Inn takeout counter in Honolulu sells sandwiches, breakfast meals and Hawaii favorites like Loco Moco, which features white rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg and gravy.

A package of 200 foam boxes costs him $23, while the same number of biodegradable boxes would cost $57, he said.

Chris Yankowski of the Hawaii Restaurant Association, which represents 3,500 restaurants, said lawmakers are trying to do “too much too fast.”

Yankowski, who is also president of Triple F Distributors, argued that good alternatives to plastic products are not yet available. Hawaii’s cities and counties also don’t provide composting facilities, so there is no organized place to dispose of compostable containers that lawmakers say restaurants should use instead, he added.

“It’s almost like we want to do great things for the environment, but we’re not ready to handle it when we change it over,” Yankowski said.

The Hawaii Food Industry Association, which counts the state’s biggest supermarkets and convenience stores as members, initially opposed the foam container ban but now supports it.

The group said in written testimony that it’s encountered difficulties coping with varied local regulations and it wants the state to create a consistent standard. Two main counties — Hawaii and Maui — have already adopted plastic foam bans. Maui’s took effect on Dec. 31, while Hawaii’s takes effect on July 1.

The association still opposes the broader measure, which also would ban plastic garbage bags.

The president of Island Plastic Bags, a Hawaii company that makes plastic bags, said the legislation would prohibit his company from selling trash bags to nursing homes and hospitals as well as restaurants and hotels.

Grocery stores wouldn’t be able to sell trash can liners, Adrian Hong said in written testimony. It would create a “public health crisis,” he said.

Gabbard said his proposal was in the early stages so lawmakers have time to address such concerns.

The state Senate has passed both bills. They still must get through several House committees and the full House before heading to the governor.

Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Gov. David Ige, said he hasn’t stated a position on the measures yet.

Justin Macia, a pharmacist in Honolulu, said he would like people to use less plastic and stop using plastic foam entirely because of how long it takes to degrade. Cardboard containers would be a great alternative, he said.

“It’s definitely something that’s got to go,” he said, after eating a sandwich from a foam takeout box.

Business

Getty Images files for Chapter 11. What comes next for Florida photographers and videographers?

Published

5 days ago

November 9, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Getty expects licensing and contributor payments to continue as it seeks court approval for a restructuring. The case comes as AI puts pressure on generic stock imagery and verified coverage remains valuable to newsrooms.

Florida National News | Nov. 9, 2026

Getty Images is asking a federal bankruptcy court to approve a restructuring that would cut its debt and take the company private while it continues licensing photographs and video. For Florida photographers and videographers who sell work through Getty, the immediate question is whether royalties and assignment payments keep arriving on schedule. The longer-term question is which images and footage buyers will still pay to license as generative artificial intelligence makes some stock visuals easier to produce.

Getty Images Holdings Inc. and six subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 protection Oct. 21 in Delaware. The company entered the case with support from major financial stakeholders and says it expects to continue serving customers and paying contributors in the ordinary course. The court is scheduled to hear several initial motions Nov. 17 and consider confirmation of the restructuring plan Dec. 15. Getty Images Chapter 11 filing and financing disclosure · Bankruptcy docket and Nov. 17 hearing notice · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing

What drove Getty into bankruptcy?

The proposed plan includes up to $533 million in equity commitments from Getty family and Koch Equity Development affiliates. That amount includes financing and conversion of some existing debt into equity. The plan would cancel existing shares and put the reorganized company under the ownership of those investors. Getty Images restructuring agreement

Getty reported $2.1 billion in debt at the end of June. Its second-quarter results also showed $110.9 million in payments related to a warrant litigation judgment and interest, as well as higher interest costs tied in part to financing for the proposed Shutterstock acquisition. Getty abandoned that deal in July after Britain’s competition regulator conditioned clearance on the sale of Shutterstock’s editorial business. Getty Images second-quarter results · U.K. Competition and Markets Authority on the abandoned merger

Getty’s results show why the bankruptcy matters differently across the industry. Second-quarter creative revenue fell 2.6% from a year earlier to $127.4 million, while editorial revenue rose 9.2% to $96.5 million. The company did not quantify how much of the creative decline was attributable to AI. Getty Images second-quarter results

What Florida contributors should watch

Getty says it expects to maintain normal operations through the restructuring. For freelancers, the next royalty statement and deposit will give them a more direct view of whether the process is affecting their income. A contributor who licenses archive photos, a freelance crew that invoices for assignments and a production company that supplies footage may each have different payment terms. Getty Images restructuring announcement

Contributors can reconcile deposits against statements and keep copies of agreements, invoices and notices. An overdue balance or a notice naming a specific contract warrants a closer look at the applicable court documents and deadlines. After the case, the terms that could affect earnings include royalty rates, exclusivity, subscription payouts and how a distributor packages photos and video.

A hand holds a smartphone in front of a blue and purple network of glowing image thumbnails

An AI-generated illustration for Florida National News’ coverage of Getty Images’ Chapter 11 restructuring and competition from generative AI.

Which Florida assignments are most exposed to AI?

Generic office scenes, beach-themed backgrounds and short lifestyle clips face more direct competition from generative tools. A buyer who needs a mood or setting can generate several options without scheduling a shoot. A buyer who needs footage of a specific launch from Florida’s Space Coast, storm damage in a particular neighborhood or a decisive play at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game still needs a verifiable record of that event.

Florida’s news, sports and entertainment calendar gives local crews opportunities to supply that record. A videographer covering a major convention in Orlando might have an interview or clean footage that a national outlet missed. A photographer covering a local election might have the only usable image of a concession speech. For archive sales, accurate dates, locations, names and captions help buyers find the material and establish what it shows. Event credentials, assignment agreements and existing licenses can limit which uses a contributor can offer.

Getty is also selling generative AI tools. The company says its image generator is trained on licensed creative content and proprietary data and that licenses carry indemnification under the applicable agreement. That gives Getty a way to sell generated visuals to commercial buyers while continuing to license photographs and footage of real events. Getty Images generative AI terms and training FAQ

Where AP and Reuters fit

The Associated Press and Reuters overlap most directly with Getty in editorial coverage. Both can serve publishers that want additional sources of news photographs and video. Reuters Connect also offers live video and individual picture licensing. AP says its standards prohibit the use of generative AI to create, alter or enhance news photography. Associated Press AI standards · Reuters Connect licensing

AP and Reuters could gain business if publishers add a second supplier or Getty changes its prices, packages or service. Getty’s plan also leaves open a different outcome. If the company emerges with less debt and can invest more in editorial coverage, the two agencies could face a stronger competitor.

What comes next

The December hearing will determine whether Getty can move forward with the proposed plan, subject to the court’s ruling and remaining conditions. Getty has said it expects to complete the restructuring by year-end. For Florida contributors, the near-term measures are whether payments arrive, assignments continue and licensing terms change. The longer-term test is whether distributors and newsrooms will pay enough for distinctive, verified Florida coverage to sustain the people who produce it. Getty Images restructuring announcement · BankruptcyData on the Dec. 15 confirmation hearing

Business

New AdventHealth Middleton Clinic Brings Pediatric Specialists, Urogynecology Near The Villages

Published

2 weeks ago

October 30, 2026

FNN NEWS

The multispecialty clinic features 24 treatment rooms, pediatric imaging and services designed to bring care closer to Middleton families.

MIDDLETON, Fla. (FNN) — Families in Middleton have a new option for pediatric and women’s specialty care with the opening of the AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic, according to an Oct. 29 news release from AdventHealth.

Located at 2274 Alder Ave., the clinic brings together pediatric primary care, pediatric cardiology, pediatric orthopedics and women’s urogynecology services. The facility includes 24 treatment rooms, a pediatric X-ray room and spaces for children’s heart screenings.

Bringing care closer to families

Middleton, a master-planned community along Central Parkway, is home to approximately 1,200 families and households, many with residents who work in and around The Villages, according to the release.

For Jenny Trew, whose family was the first to move to Middleton, the new clinic could mean fewer long trips for routine appointments. She has been driving nearly an hour to Clermont for pediatric care for her 13-year-old twin sons, Jasen and Jackson.

“Going to the pediatrician usually means pulling both boys out of school, taking time away from work and making a day out of something that should be pretty simple,” Trew said in the release.

Having a pediatrician in the neighborhood will make it easier to balance health care appointments with work, school, sports and other activities, she said.

Dr. Vanessa Carroll, chief medical officer of AdventHealth for Children, said proximity matters when families are seeking care for a sick or injured child.

“Parents don’t want to take their child to just any doctor. They want someone they can trust, right around the corner,” Carroll said in the release. “Because when your child is sick or injured, an hour-long drive can feel even farther.”

Expanding women’s specialty services

The clinic also provides urogynecology services, including care for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor conditions.

The location gives women a nearby option for specialized treatment aimed at improving comfort, health and quality of life, according to AdventHealth.

“Women spend so much of their lives caring for others, and it can become very easy to put their own health last,” Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women, said in the release. “We want women to know there is care here for them, too.”

The clinic brings AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women together at one location to serve families through different stages of life.

Supporting students and schools

Middleton’s early childhood centers, two K-8 schools and high school collectively enroll more than 3,000 students, according to the release.

LeAnne Yerk, principal of The Villages Charter Elementary School, said access to nearby pediatric care supports students’ health and readiness to learn.

“As educators, we see firsthand that a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive in the classroom is deeply connected to their health and well-being,” Yerk said in the release.

She described the clinic’s proximity to schools as an important resource for students and families, helping connect health care with educational support.

Location and appointments

The AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic is located at 2274 Alder Ave., Middleton, Florida.

To schedule an appointment, call:

Pediatric primary care: 352-467-7862
Pediatric cardiology: 352-353-2788
Pediatric orthopedics: 407-303-5687
Women’s urogynecology: 407-303-1380

For online appointment information, visit MyMiddletonPediatrics.com for children’s services or MiddletonUrogyn.com for women’s services.

Business

GOAA Highlights Airport Improvements, Approves New Small Business Policies

Published

3 weeks ago

October 22, 2026

FNN NEWS

Gate Link train on an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with palm trees, airport buildings and a control tower behind it.

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal upgrades, parking projects and international connections mark the authority’s fiscal year review.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority highlighted terminal improvements, expanded international connections and parking projects during its fiscal 2026 review, while its board adopted changes to a local business program and announced a new statewide small business initiative.

The updates affect Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport, which GOAA operates.

“We are undertaking an ambitious effort to redefine what it means to deliver a world-class airport experience,” GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said in the authority’s announcement.
“As we welcome more visitors, more airlines, more routes, and new programs, our responsibility is to elevate every part of the journey — making it more welcoming, intuitive, and connected.”

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal Improvements Focus on Connections and Families

Among the completed projects was an enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Orlando International Airport’s train station and Terminal C.

Terminal C also opened a new wing serving gates 250–254, providing additional capacity and becoming the new home for Virgin Atlantic’s airport operations.

Three new Family Zones — one in each terminal — offer spaces for children and families to play, read and recharge. GOAA also highlighted improvements to directional signs along airport roads, in parking areas and throughout the terminals.

Parking Expansion and $40 Million Improvement Program

GOAA reported progress on a parking guidance system at Terminal C, with phased activation across all garages planned through mid-2027.

Dedicated employee parking areas are intended to free additional spaces for travelers. Planning is also underway for two new garages expected to add 8,000 public parking spaces over the next few years.

Separately, the authority’s $40 million Beautiful Airports Program targets safety, functionality and appearance across garages, terminals and other airport areas.

Aviation Investments and International Service

The fiscal year review highlighted a $50 million investment by dnata, a $26 million redevelopment by Signature Aviation at Orlando International Airport and groundbreaking for Sky Harbour’s $40 million campus at Orlando Executive Airport.

International service developments included ZIPAIR’s nonstop passenger charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo and Iberia’s launch of nonstop service to Madrid.

GOAA described ZIPAIR’s service as the first passenger charter connection between Florida and the Asia-Pacific region.

Business Policy Changes Broaden Eligibility

The board adopted revisions to GOAA’s Local Developing Business program following research, town halls and discussions with internal experts.

The changes increase the allowable personal net worth threshold and clarify how assets are excluded from that calculation, including primary residence equity, business equity, retirement assets and certain nonliquid holdings.

Business size standards were also revised to account for inflation and increased operating costs. The announcement did not specify the updated financial thresholds.

A new Small Business program will complement the local program and extend eligibility to qualifying businesses throughout Florida. Under the announced framework, participating businesses must fall within 50% of the applicable U.S. Small Business Administration size standard.

GOAA said detailed guidelines for both programs would be posted on its website. Those guidelines will provide businesses with the information needed to assess eligibility.